AP Psychology Chapter 14 Terms

Social Psychology

The branch of psychology that studies the effects of social variable and cognitions on individual behavior and social interactions.

Social Context

The combination of (a) people, (b) the activities and interactions among people, (c.) the setting in which behavior occurs, and (d) the expectations and social norms governing behavior in that setting.

Situationism

The view that environmental conditions influence people’s behavior as much as or more than their personal dispositions do.

Social Role

One of several socially defined patterns of behavior that are expected of persons in a given setting or group.

Script

A cluster of knowledge about the sequence of events and actions expected to occur in a particular situation.

Social Norms

A group’s expectations regarding what is appropriate and acceptable for its members’ attitudes and behaviors.

Asch Effect

A form of conformity in which a group majority influences individual judgements.

Conformity

The tendency for people to adopt behaviors, attitudes, and opinions of other members of a group.

Diffusion of Responsibility

Dilution or weakening of each group member’s obligation to act when responsibility is perceived to be shared with all group members.

Social Reality

An individual’s subjective interpretation of other people and of relationships with them.

Reward Theory of Attraction

A social-learning view that says we like best those who give us maximum rewards at minimum cost.

Principle of Proximity

The notion that people are attracted to those who are most similar to themselves.

Similarity Principle

The notion that people are attracted to those who are most similar to themselves.

Matching Hypothesis

The prediction that most people will find friends and mates that are perceived to be of about their same level of attractiveness.

Expectancy-value Theory

A theory ini social psychology that people decide whether to pursue a relationship by weighing the potential value of the relationship agains their expectation of success in establishing the relationship.

Cognitive Dissonance

A highly motivating state in which people have conflicting cognition, especially when their voluntary actions conflict with their attitudes.

Fundamental Attribution Error

The tendency to emphasize internal causes and ignore external pressures. This is more common in individualism cultures than in collective cultures.

Self-serving Bias

An attributional pattern in which one takes credit for success but denies responsibility for failure.

Prejudice

A negative attitude toward an individual based solely on membership in a particular group.

Discrimination

A negative action taken against an individual as a result of his or her group membership.

In Group

The group with which an individual identifies.

Social Distance

Te pereived difference or similarity between oneself and another person.

Out-group

Those outside the group with which an individual identifies.

Scapegoating

Blaming an innocent person or a group for one’s own troubles

Social Facilitation

An increase in an individual’s performance because of being in a group.

Social Loafing

A decrease in performance because of being in a group.

Deindividuation

Occurs when group members lose their sense of personal identity and responsibility and the group “assumes” responsibility for their behavior.

Group Polarization

When individuals in a group have similar, but not identical, views, opinions become more extreme.

Groupthink

An excessive tendency to seek concurrence among group members.

Romantic Love

A temporary and highly emotional condition based on infatuation and sexual drive.

Triangular Love Theory

A theory that describes types of love in terms of three components: passion (erotic attraction), intimacy (sharing feelings, trust), and commitment (the relationship is the highest priority).

Violence and Aggression

Terms that refer to behavior that is intended to cause pain.

Cohesiveness

Solidarity, loyalty, and a sense of group membership.

Mutual Interdependence

A shared sense that individual sor groups need each other in order to achieve common goals.

Terrorism

The use of violent, unpredictable acts by a small group against a Slarger group for political, economic, or religious goals.